South Dakota Public Broadcasting host Karl Gehrke dies at 64

Karl Gehrke, a talk and music host who worked for South Dakota Public Broadcasting for more than three decades, died Tuesday after living with cancer. He was 64.

“Karl was a vibrant presence at SDPB for more than three decades, touching countless listeners across the state and beyond through his passion for music and storytelling,” the station said in a press release.

Gehrke had hosted the station’s Jazz Nightly music show since 2015 as well as the shows Big Band Spotlight and Extended Play. He also contributed to the station as an arts reporter, special project producer and “champion of local musicians,” the release said.

Gehrke first joined SDPB in 1991 as arts advocate. He was hired in 2012 as host of Dakota Midday. His career also included stops in Watertown, S.D., and at Minnesota Public Radio’s Worthington bureau as a reporter and Morning Edition host.

In a station tribute, SDPB Executive Director Julie Overgaard said Gehrke was “truly one of the kindest, albeit soft-spoken, thoughtful, caring people I’d had the honor of working with. He had almost no ego for how incredibly talented he was. Just a quiet man, a very humble man, but went about his life with purpose and found absolute joy in the work he was doing.”

Matt Weesner will serve as fill-in host for Jazz Nightly “as SDPB explores how we can continue to serve South Dakota’s jazz fans on a long-term basis,” the station said in its release.

“SDPB will honor Karl’s legacy later this summer with a tribute program featuring live performances, segments of his most memorable shows, and reflections from his co-workers, peers, and friends,” the station said.

Services will be held in Brookings, S.D., at a time and date yet to be determined.